Newmont asked to remove floating pier in Lombok

PT ASDP has asked PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT) to remove its floating pier near the state owned inter-island ship operator?s port in Kayangan, East Lombok, Bali Post reported on Saturday.

The construction of the floating pier had disturbed the flows of ferries in the port, the company said. In addition, the floating pier would also disturb the port?s expansion plan due to its close distance to its port area, the company added.

In a letter sent to Bali Pos, PT ASDP, which is owned by the ministry of communications, said that the company had issued two warning letters to Newmont to remove the floating pier. But the mining company ignored the warning.

The floating pier was initially located within PT ASDP?s port area, and for this reason the company charged Newmont. But later, the management of the pier was handed over to the local government, which then relocated the floating pier?s location near the port.

With the change in the floating pier?s management, PT ASDP has lost its rights to charge service payment to Newmont. As part of the cooperation agreement, the local government receives certain amount of money for its activities to operate the floating pier. (*)